Method and apparatus for interleaving inserts during the envelope making process



May 14, 1968 E. B. BERKOWITZ 3,382,778

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERLEAVING INSERTS DURING THE ENVELOPE MAKINGPROCESS Filed Feb. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS E. B. BERKOWITZ 3,382,778 METHOD AND APPARATUS FORINTERLEAVING INSERTS May 14, 1968 DURING THE ENVELOPE MAKING PROCESS 1,1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERLEAVING INSERTS DURING THE ENVELOPE MAKINGPROCESS Filed Feb. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JUGENE B.BfR/(O/J/TZ ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent 0 3,382,773 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR INTERLEAVIN G INSERTS DURING THE ENVELOPE MAKING PROESSEugene B. Berkowitz, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Tension EnvelopeCorporation, Kansas City, Mo.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,156 10Claims. (Cl. 93-61) This invention relates to a method and apparatus forthe formation of envelopes and more particularly, for the formation ofenvelopes having an insert such as a greeting card or the likeinterleaved between the closure flap and the main body of the envelopeduring the envelope formation process.

Heretofore, the interleaving of inserts such as cards or the like hasbeen accomplished in a process or opera.- tion secondary to the envelopeformation process and has utilized an apparatus which feeds a preformedenvelope having a main body portion and a closure flap to a certainstation where the prefolded closure flap is lifted away from the mainbody of the envelope and an insert is inserted between the closure flapand the main body of the envelope. The utilization of an interleavingoperation of this nature is time consuming in that the envelopes must bedelivered from the formation process to the secondary interleavingprocess. Secondly, the interleaving operations now utilized bring theenvelope to a complete stop .before inserting the card or like article.Further problems have been experienced due to the necessity of raisingthe prefolded closure flap to allow for the interleaving of the insertbetween said closure flap and the main body of the envelope. The closureflap will not always be elevated to the desired position which resultsin an engagement between the closure flap and the insert preventing theinterleaving of the insert and resulting in a stoppage of theinterleaving operation.

It is, therefore, the principal objects of this invention to provide amethod and apparatus for the interleaving of inserts between the closureflap and main body or enclosure pocketof an envelope during the envelopeformation process and thereby eliminating the aforementioneddifiieulties; to provide such a method and apparatus for the productionof a greater quantity of envelopes having an insert interleavedtherewith in a unit of time then has heretofore been possible withpresent methods and equipment; to provide such a method and apparatuswherein the insert is interleaved between the closure flap and pocketportion of the envelope prior to the complete folding of said closureflap to thereby eliminate the difficulties encountered in the art due tothe engagement of the insert with said closure flap; to provide a novelmethod and apparatus in an envelope making process for extractinginserts from a container and placing said insert on a partially formedenvelope blank as said blank is being conveyed through an envelopemaking process whereby a closure flap of said blank will be folded intocontacting relation with said insert to thereby interleave said insertwith said envelope; and to provide such a novel and efficient method andapparatus wherein the interleaving of inserts and envelope may beaccomplished rapidly and in an economical manner during the envelopeformation process Other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustrationand example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the successive steps involvedin forming an envelope with an insert interleaved therewith.

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FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through an apparatusembodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view in continuation of FIG.2 of an apparatus embodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of that portion of the apparatus where theinterleaving operation is accomplished.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the gear train and chain drive tothe vacuum cylinder.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the vacuum cylinder.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The method illustrated in FIG. 1 commences with blanks 1 which arepreshaped to provide a main body portion 2 having an inner face 3, sideflaps 4, bottom flap 5 and closure flap 6. The envelope blank 1 also hasa plurality of notches 7 in the side edges of said blank 1 at thejuncture points of the side flaps 4 with the bottom flap 5 and closureflap 6. The notches 7 are utilized for registering the blank 1 withinthe envelope making machine and also to facilitate the forming of thecorners of the envelope.

The novel method illustrated in FIG. 1 constitutes a plurality of stepsdesignated by letters A to I inclusive, all of which are performed whilethe blanks are in a continuous movement and includes the interleaving ofan insert 8 as the steps of the envelope formation process are beingcontinuously executed. The method contemplates the interleaving of theinsert 8 prior to the complete folding of the closure flap 6. a

In practicing the method, the preshaped flat blanks 1 are incollated atstation B in a stepped or staggered formation with the upper portion ofthe closure flap 6 of each blank 1 exposed for the application ofadhesive 9. The envelope blanks 1 are maintained in this formation asthey are passed through a drying section of the machine as, for example,like that shown in Patent No. 2,694,351 where the adhesive 9 is dried.After the drying of adhesive 9, the envelope blanks 1 are decollated orsuccessively drawn out from the stepped formation and continuouslyadvanced singularly in spaced relation from one another as shown atstation C through the envelope folding section of the apparatus with theinner face 3 of the main body portion 2 of envelope blank 1 facingupwardly. The envelope blank 1 is advanced through station D where theblank is scored along the juncture of the main body portion 2 with theclosure flap 6 and bottom flap 5 to form score lines 10 and 11respectively.

The scored envelope blank 1 is advanced from station D and throughstation E where the side flaps 4 are folded into overlying contactingrelation with the inside face 3 of the main body portion 2 of envelopeblank 1. From station E, the envelope blank 1 is conveyed throughstation P where adhesive 12 is applied to a portion of side flap 4 whichwill come into contacting relation with the bottom flap 5 when said flapis so folded. The envelope blank 1 is continually advanced throughstation G where said bottom flap 5 is folded into overlying contactingrelation with side flaps 4 and adhesive 12 to seal said bottom flap 5 toside flaps 4 to form an enclosed envelope pocket 13.

The envelope blank 1 is conveyed continuously from station G throughstation H where the insert 8 is placed in generally contacting relationto the exterior surface 13' of the envelope pocket 13. The envelopeblank 1 is advanced through station I where the closure flap 6 is foldeditno contacting relation with the insert 8 thereby interleaving saidinsert 8 between the closure flap 6 and the envelope pocket portion 13.

The initial folding of the closure flap 6 should commence slightlybefore the delivery of the insert 8 to the envelope blank 1 such thatthe insert 8 is actually placed between the closure flap 6 and thepocket portion 13. By so folding the closure flap 6, the insert 8 willengage the closure flap 6 when placed on pocket portion 13 therebyceasing relative movement between said insert 8 and blank 1 to registerthe blank 1 and insert 8. The folding of the closure flap 6 intocontacting relation with insert 8 is then completed. The initial foldingof closure flap 6 prior to placement of insert 8 is not essential,however, as the insert 8 could be placed in contacting relation topocket portion 13 prior to any folding of the closure flap 6 by simplytiming the relative movements of the blank 1 and insert 8 or utilizingother means of registering their relative movement.

The insert 8 is placed adjacent the pocket portion 13 of the envelope byfirst extracting said insert from a retaining means, conveying saidinsert 8 along a predetermined path in timed sequence to the movement ofthe blank 1 and then depositing said insert 8 adjacent the pocketportion 13 of the envelope.

It should be noted that pocket portion 13 may be constructed in anymanner by any method desired. It is only critical that the insert 8 beinterleaved prior to folding of the closure flap 6.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 7, an apparatus generally indicated by thereference numeral 14 is illustrated for carrying out the aforestatedmethods and embodies the features of this invention. It should be noted,however, that other apparatus may be utilized for conveying, scoring andfolding the envelope blank 1 and also, for delivering the insert 8 tothe envelope blank 1.

The apparatus or machine 14 is comprised of two horizontally spacedapart side frames 15 and 16 for carrying the operating mechanisms at thedifferent stations and for journaling therein the shafts of the variousfeed rollers and cylinders in a manner to be described. A supportsurface 17 is mounted to the side frames 15 and '16 to provide a surfaceover which the envelope blanks 1 are propelled and through which thelower feed rollers and cylinders extend to cooperate with the uppercylinders and feed rollers to provide the propelling force for theenvelope blanks 1 along the support surface 17. No attempt has been madeto show the complete drive system of the apparatus 14 so the figures maybe more readily understandable. A portion of a gear train has been shownin FIG. 4 connected to the shafts of the various rollers and cylinders.This gear train may be operatively connected to a main drive shaft 18 bysuitable means in a conventional manner.

Referring to FIG. 2, the envelope blanks 1 are conveyed from an adhesiveapplication and drying section, for example, like that shown in PatentNo. 2,694,351, of machine 14 between belts 19 and 20 and ahead of ablank folding section generally indicated by reference numeral 21 in acollated or stepped fashion as shown at station B in FIG. 1. In theapparatus of the illustrated embodiment, it is necessary to withdraw theblanks 1 from their collated stepped fashion in a sequential manner tosingularly pass said blanks 1 through the folding section 21 of themachine 14. It should be noted that other machines for forming envelopesin which the interleaving method previously described could be utilizedmight pass the envelope blanks 1 through a folding section in a steppedor overlapped formation. In machine 14, the withdrawal of blanks 1 orthe decollation of said blanks 1 is accomplished in a conventionalmanner by passing said blanks 1 through a series of belts and rollerswhich extra-ct the uppermost blank 1 from the formation of blanks andpass said blank 1 to the blank folding section 21 of machine 14.

The machine 14 is illustrated as having a pair of laterally spacedcarriages 22, each having fore and aft pressure rollers 23 and 24respectively, axially mounted for rotation on carriages 22. Thecarriages 22 are mounted on an adjustable arm 25 which extends outwardlyand downwardly from a frame mounting, here illustrated as a clamp 26,axially mounted on a transverse shaft 27, said shaft 27 being mounted toside frames 15 and 16 by means of brackets 28. The clamp 26 has a screw29 for clamping engagement with arm 25. By this arrangement, carriages22 may be adjusted in relation to belt 19 and the pressure exerted byrollers 23 and 24 may also be adjusted by movement of arm 25 in clamp26. The rollers 23 and 24 on carriages 22 cooperate with belt 20 to movethe blanks 1 forwardly toward the blank folding section 21 of machine14. The belt 20 is mounted on rollers 30, some of which are illustrated,and is driven in a conventional manner.

After the blanks 1 pass between rollers 23 and 24 and belt 20, they arepropelled forwardly over a driven cylinder 31 and onto belt 32. The belt32 is mounted on rollers 33 and 34 which, like the shaft of cylinder 31,are journaled in side frames 15 and 16 of machine 14. The belt 32 isintermittently driven by means of a Geneva drive 35 which is operativelyconnected to the shaft of roller 33 in a conventional manner.

As the blanks 1 move forwardly on the conveyor belt 32, they encounter asecond pair of laterally spaced carriages 36 having fore and aftpressure rollers 37 and 38 respectively, axially mounted thereto withsaid carriages being mounted on an arm 39 which extends outwardly fromclamp 40. The clamp 46 is mounted to a transverse shaft 41 which isretained in bracket 42, said bracket 42 being mounted in a conventionalmanner to the side frames 15 and 16. The clamp 41 has a screw 49' whichclampingly engages arm 39 and allows for adjustment of said arm tothereby adjust carriages 36. As the foremost blank 1 reaches the rollers38 of carriage 36, it is driven forwardly and pulled out from theoverlapping collated formation of blanks but is not completely separatedfrom said formation of blanks. The cooperative action of rollers 37 and38 with the intermittent movement of belt 32 merely increases thespacing between the blanks 1 and said blanks 1 still remain in anoverlapping stepped or collated formation. The blank 1 is not completelywithdrawn or decollated from said formation until it' is grasped bycylinders 43 and 44 and extracted from the remainder of the blanks to bepassed through the blank folding section 21 of machine 14 in spacedrelation from adjacent blanks 1.

As the blanks 1 proceed forwardly into the folding section 21 of machine14 from cylinders 43 and 44, the notches 7 of blank 1 are engaged by apair of fingers 45 which are axially mounted on shaft 46 in aconventional manner for intermittent movement in and out from the planeof the support surface 17. After engagement by the pair of fingers 45 inthe forward notches 7 of blank 1, a pair of straightening fingers 47engage the rearward notches 7 of blank 1 as the blank is l avingcylinders 43 and 44. The straightening fingers 47 which are axiallymounted on shaft 43 in a conventional manner for intermittent movementin and out from the plane of the support surface 17 cooperate withfingers 45 to align blank 1 on the support surface 17 in order toposition said blank for accurate scoring by a scoring roller 49.

The scoring cylinder 49 has a pair of longitudinally extending knifeedges 50 extending therefrom which engage the blank 1 as it passesbeneath cylinder 4% to form score lines 16 and 11 on blank 1. Thescoring cylinder 49 has a cooperating conveying cylinder 51 mounted inunderlying relation thereto, each having shafts 52 and 53 respectivelyjournaled in side frames 15 and 16 and driven by a gear train 54, aportion of which is shown in FIG. 4.

After the blanks 1 have been scored in the manner previously describedat station -D of the mac..ine, the blank 1 is continuously advancedthrough station E of machine 14 by means of conveying cylinders 54' and55 where the side flaps 4 are folded into contacting relation with theinner face 3 of the main body portion 2 of envelope blank 1. Theenvelope blank 1 passes beneath a pair of laterally spaced folding rails56 and the side flaps 4 are folded by means of a pair of pushers 57which operate reciprocally in a direction transverse to the path of theenvelope blank 1 in a conventional manner. The envelope blank 1 thenpasses between upper and lower feed cylinders 59 and 60 respectivelywhich react to press the folds of the side flaps and bring said sideflaps 4 into contact with the main body portion 2 of blank 1.

The envelope blank 1 is then conveyed to station F by means of a drivencylinder 61 and a pressure roller 62 where adhesive 12 is applied toside flaps 4. The adhesive 12 is removed from an adhesive container 63by means of pick-up cylinder 64 in a conventional manner and istransferred to a transfer cylinder 65 by direct engagement of cylinders65 and 64. A pair of adhesive applicators 66 which are mounted onshaft'67 rotate in timed sequence with the passage of blanks 1 throughthe blank folding section 21 and successively remove adhesive 12 fromcylinder 65 and apply said adhesive 12 to the side flaps 4 of theenvelope blank 1 in a conventional manner. A driven cylinder 68 servesto back up the blank 1 as the adhesive applicators 66 apply the adhesiveto said blank 1.

A pair of conveyor cylinders 69 and 70 propel the envelope blank 1through station G where the bottom flap 5 is folded into contactingrelation with adhesive 12 and side flaps 4. After the blanks 1 havepassed through conveyor cylinder 69 and 70, a finger 71 mounted on shaft72 swings into the path of the envelope blank 1 and bends up the bottomflap 5 along score line 11. After finger 71 has bent the bottom flap 5in an upward direction, a swinging knife 73 mounted on arm 74, said armbeing mounted to shaft 75 which is, in turn, journaled in side frames 15and 16, intermittently swings into contact with the juncture between thebottom flap 5 and main body portion 2 of blank 1 assuring the correctintroduction of the score line between the pair of cylinders 7 5 and 77which cooperate to press the fold of the bottom flap 5 and effect thesealing of bottom flap 5 to side flaps 4 to form the envelope pocketportion 13.

The envelope blanks 1 are conveyed beneath vacuum cylinder '78 by adriven cylinder 79 and rollers 79' to station H where the insert 8 isplaced adjacent the exterior 13 of the pocket portion 13 of theenvelope 1. The pocket portion 13 of the envelope travels upwardly alonga guide plate 8%} which intermittently swings into the path ofenvelope 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide plate 80 which has a curvedlower portion 80- is mounted to the shaft 140 which is journaled in acam mechanism 141, said cam mechanism 141 being driven by gear train 5to reciprocate the guide plate 80 into and out of the path of theenvelope 1 causing the envelope pocket portion 13 to move over thecurved lower portion 86 of the plate 80 and upwardly along plate 80.Said lower curved portion 80 of guide plate 80 is positioned inoverlying relation to a path of envelope travel between cylinder androiler 84. The cam mechanism 141 then reciprocates the guide plates 89upwardly and outwardly as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 3 to allow theenvelope 1 to be forced downwardly between the cylinder 85 and roller 84to fold the closure flap 6 by moving the lower curved portion 80 ofguide plate 86 outwardly from its position overlying the path betweencylinder 85 and roller 84 to a position which allows the envelope 1 tomove between cylinder 85 and roller 84.

The guide plate 80 is rigidly mounted to an arm 83 which is, in turn,swingably mounted to a second arm 82 by means of a shaft 142 having anenlarged head portion 143 adjacent each of the arms '82 and 83 to retainsaid arms 82 and 83 on said shaft 142. The arm 82. is rigidly mounted toshaft 149 and moves to an upwardly directed position when shaft 140 isrotated by the cam mechanism 141 which, in turn, lifts the arm 6 83 andthe guide plate 80 as shown in dashed lines on FIG. 3.

An insertion blade 86 is employed to engage the closure flap 6 as thepocket portion 13 is disposed in a generally vertical position alongguide plate 80 to initiate a fold of the envelope blank 1 along scoreline 10 and force the envelope blank 1 downwardly between the roller 84,and cylinder 85 to press the closure flap 6 against the pocket portion13 of the envelope 1. The blade 86 has an arm 144 rigidly mountedthereto which is, in turn, rigidly mounted to a shaft 81. As the shaft81 is rotated by means of a cam mechanism 81' which is driven by thegear train 54, the blade 86 engages the envelope blank 1 along scoreline 10 thereby introducing the envelope 1 to the folding path betweenthe cylinder =35 and roller 84 to press the fold of the closure flap 6.:If the insert 8 is sufficiently stiff, the downward force of the insert8 against the closure flap 6 would be sufiicient to force the blank 1between cylinder 85 and roller 84, thus eliminating the necessity ofblade 86.

In the illustrated embodiment, at the point when the insertion bladeforces the envelope downwardly between rollers 84 and cylinder 85, aninsert 8 is delivered adjacent the exterior 13 of the pocket portion 13of the envelope between said pocket portion 13 and the closure flap 6 sothat when the envelope passes through or between folding rollers 84 andcylinder 85, the closure flap 6 is actually pressed into contactingrelation with the insert 8 which is interleaved between the closure flap6 and the pocket portion 13 of the envelope.

It should be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, the closureflap is partially folded along score line 10 as the pocket portion 13moves upwardly against guide plate 80; therefore, guide plate 80 effectsa partial fold of closure flap 6. The insert 8 is therefore deliveredinto engagement with closure flap 6 or between the partially foldedclosure flap 6 land the pocket portion 13. The insert 8 could, however,be delivered to the blank 1 prior to this partial folding of closureflap 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 8 is delivered to its positionbetween the closure flap 6 and the pocket portion 13 of the envelope bymeans of a vacuum cylinder 78 which extracts the insert 8 from acontainer 87 mounted in overlying relation to cylinder 78 and conveyssaid insert 8 through a pass 87' to the envelope blank 1.

The vacuum cylinder 78, as previously mentioned, has a holding apparatusor container 87 mounted in overlying relation to said cylinder 78 whichmay be manually or mechanically fed. The cylinder 78 and holdingapparatus 87 may be similar to that shown in the Skow patents Nos.2,853,296 and 2,635,538. The holding or retaining apparatus or container8'7 is comprised of side frames 88 and 89 which guide the inserts 8 intoan overlying contacting position in relation to the vacuum cylinder 78.Side frames 88 and 89 may be mounted to the side frames 16 and 15 of themachine 14 in a manner shown in FIG. 4 or may be mounted on a suitablestructure independent of the machine 14. As illustrated, the side frame89 has a lower lip portion 90 extending inwardly toward side frame 88 tosupport the rearward portion of inserts 8. The side frame 88 has a lowerextension member which comprises an upper guide 91 adjustably mountedthereto and having a pliable end tip 32. The upper guide 91 isadjustable in relation to the vacuum cylinder 78 to insure that only oneinsert 8 is withdrawn from the container 87 upon each half revolution ofthe vacuum cylinder 78. The upper guide 91 has an adjusting device, hereillustrated as a bracket 93, having spaced ears 94 with said bracket 93being mounted to a cross frame member 95, and a sliding abutment plate96. The cross frame member 95 is mounted by suitable means to the sideframe members 15 and 16. The abutment plate 96 is mounted to bracket 93by means of :1 lug 97 and an adjustment screw 98. The adjustment screw98 passes through lug 97 and each of said spaced ears $4 to providevertical adjustment of the abutment plate d6 upon rotation of screw )8.T he abutment plate 96 which lies in abutting relation to the upperguide 91 serves to retain guide 9i in desired spaced relation fromvacuum cylinder and is thereby utilized to insure the removal of asirgle insert 8 from container $7 at any one time.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cross frame member ftS has a plurality of lowerguides 99 mounted thereto by means of two arms 1% which extend outwardlyand downwardly from the pivotal connection 1% on the cross frame member95 to an adjustable connection 132. on a transverse beam NS. The lowerguides 9 being mounted on transverse beam ltlfl are so shaped as todefine the pass 87 between said lower guides 99, vacuum cylinder '78 anda guide block 194, through which the inserts 8 are propelled. The guideblock 1'34 is so positioned relative to the vacuum cylinder 7 8 toinsure the movement of insert 8 outwardly away from vacuum cylinder 78when said cylinder releases the insert 3 so that said card will moveforwardly between the lower guide i and the insertion blade 86 to itsinterleaved position between the closure flap 6 and the pocket portion13 of the envelope.

Referring to FIG. 5, a portion of gear train 54 is illustrated to showone way in which the vacuum cylinder 7 may be operated or driven intimed sequence with the remainder of the driven cylinders to coordinatethe movements of the insert 8 with the envelope blank 1. As illustrated,the vacuum cylinder 78 is mounted on a shaft 195 which is journaled inside frames 15 and 16 and operatively connected to a chain drive 106.The shaft 1&5 has a sprocket 107 mounted thereon over which chain 193operates in cooperation with a sprocket 1G9 mounted to shaft 11% oncylinder 77. The shaft ill of cylinder '77 is driven by gear train 54 asshown in H6. 4 with sprocket mounted outwardly from gear train 54.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the vacuum cylinder 7% is illustrated ashaving a cylindrical body portion lift having annular grooves 112 and113 and two diametrically opposed pairs of suction ports 114, each ofsaid ports 114 of the respective pairs being interconnected by manifoldchannels 115 which open inwardly from a recess 116 at one end ofcylinder 78. A valving disc 117 is retained in recess 116 by a collarH3, said valving disc 117 being retained against rotation when the shaft135 and cylinder 7d are rotated by arms 119 which are mounted to theva'lving disc 117 by a screw 120 and secured to the frames or 16 bysuitable means. The valving disc 117 has an arcuate channel 121 adaptedto register with the manifold channels 115 to successively establish anddisestablish a vacuum through ports 114- as the cylinder 78 and shaftrotate. The valving disc carries a nipple I122 to which a flexible hoseL3 is secured to connect said cylinder '78 to a vacuum pump (not shown).As the vacuum cylinder 73 is rotated in timed sequence with theremainder of the envelope folding section 21 of machine 14, the arcuatechannel 121 of the fixed valving disc 117 moves into and out ofcommunication with the manifold channels to provide a vacuum at ports 115 as said ports 114 contact the lower most insert 8 in the container 87and serves to shut ofi said vacuum as the insert 8 is propelled throughpass 87 with the shut otf point being above the guide block it). Thecentrifugal force on the insert 8 will cause insert 8 to move outwardlyagainst the lower guide 9% and over guide block 104 to its interleavedposition between the pocket portion 13 and the closure flap 6 of theenvelope.

The section of machine 14 containing vacuum cylinder 78 and its relatedmechanism may be inserted into a standard conventional rotary envelopemaking machine, thereby eliminating the necessity of special machines toaccomplish the interleaving of inserts 8 during the envelope formationprocess.

After the insert 8 has been placed adjacent the pocket portion 13 of theenvelope and forward of the insert blade 86, said insert blade movesdownwardly forcing the envelope to bend along score line 10 and betweenrollers 3d and cylinder 35 to effect the fold and press of the upperclosure flap into contacting relation with insert 8. After passingbetween pressing rollers 84 and cylinder 55, the envelope and insert 8slide over plate 124 and between a pair of conveying discs 125 and guiderails 126 arranged concentrically thereto to define a pass 127 betweensaid discs 125' and said guide 126. Each of the conveying discs 125 haslugs 1 :28 which engage the envelope at its trailing edge and pushes itthrough pass 127 in a conventional manner. When the trailer edge of theenvelope and insert 8 have reached the horizontal portion 131 of guide126, a swinging rail 129 presses said envelope and insert 3 against theback of a pair of discs 130. The discs 1%- are in the form of a doublethreaded conveyor worm and cooperate together to, upon every halfrevolution, convey one envelope from its rear to its frontside where theenvelopes and inserts 8 are collected standing on edge in an uprightposition. The envelopes and inserts '8 then pass on to a conveyor belt131 which in a conventional manner propel said envelopes and cards 8 toa collecting point.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of forming envelopes and interleaving an insert therewith inthe envelope making process, said method comprising:

(a) conveying an envelope blank having a closure flap and while soconveying,

(b) forming said blank into an enclosure pocket,

(c) placing an insert adjacent said enclosure pocket,

(d) folding said closure flap into contacting relation with said insert.

2. A method of forming envelopes as recited in claim It wherein the foldof the closure fiap is commenced, the insert is placed between thepocket portion and the closure flap thereby utilizing the closure flapfor engagement to register the insert and the envelope, and thencompleting the fold of the closure flap.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the insert is placed inoverlying contacting relation to the body portion of the envelope beforefolding of the closure tiap into overlying contacting relation to theinsert memher.

4-. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the closure flap is partiallyfolded in relation to the pocket portion of the envelope, the insert isplaced between the closure flap and the pocket portion, and the closureflap is completely folded into contacting relation with the insert.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the insert is placed adjacentthe pocket portion by,

(a) extracting said insert from a retainer means,

(b) conveying said inert along a predetermined path in timed sequencewith the movement of the blank,

(c) depositing said insert adjacent the pocket portion of he bank.

6. An apparatus for forming envelopes and interleaving an inserttherewith, said envelope being formed from a blank including a closureflap, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame,

(b) conveying means connected to said frame for conveying the envelopeblank along a path through an envelope blank folding section,

(c) means on said frame and operatively connected to said conveyingmeans for forming an envelope cnclosure pocket from said envelope blank,

(d) means on said frame and ope lively connected to said conveying meansfor placing at least one insert in contacting relation to said pocketportion of the envelope blank,

(e) means on said frame and operatively connected to said conveyingmeans for folding the closure flap of the envelope blank into contactingrelation to said insert member, thereby interleaving the insert memberbetween the pocket portion and the closure flap of the envelope.

7. An apparatus for forming envelopes as recited in claim 6 wherein themeans for placing an insert is comprised of:

(a) retaining means associated with said frame for holding a pluralityof inserts in spaced relation from said conveying means, and

(b) means operatively connected to said conveying means for extractingan insert from the retaining means and delivering said insert to theenvelope blank as said blank moves along the conveying means.

8. An apparatus for forming envelopes as recited in claim 7 wherein themeans for extracting the inserts from the retaining means and deliveringsaid inserts to the envelope blanks is comprised of a vacuum cylinderhaving vacuum ports therein engageable with at least one insert in theretaining means, said ports being operatively connected to a means fordrawing a vacuum through said ports and means for alternativelyestablishing and disestablishing said vacuum to efiect a gripping andreleasing respectively of said inserts by said ports and means foroperatively connecting said cylinder to the conveying means for rotatingsaid cylinder in the desired timed sequence with the conveying means.

10 9. An apparatus for forming envelopes as recited in claim 7 whereinthe extracting and delivery means includes:

(a) means for extracting said inserts from the retaining means,

(b) guides extending from said retaining means to said conveying meansdefining a pass through which the inserts pass to the envelope blanks,and

(0) means for propelling said inserts through said pass to said blanks.

10. An apparatus for forming envelopes as recited in claim 6 whereinsaid apparatus includes:

(a) means for partially folding said closure flap,

(b) means for delivering said insert between the partially foldedclosure flap and the pocket portion, and

(0) means for completing the folding of the closure flap into contactingrelation with the insert.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,077,658 4/1937 Ba-llatore53-206 2,258,479 10/1941 Barkley 270--57 2,482,059 9/1949 Gates et a1.270 2,625,392 1/1953 Morrison 27057 2,643,119 6/1953 Morrison 27057 X2,728,178 12/1955 Kern 27045 X 3,059,391 10/1962 Volks et al. 53206WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF FORMING ENVELOPES AND INTERLEAVING AN INSERT THEREWITH INTHE ENVELOPE MAKING PROCESS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: (A) CONVEYING ANENVELOPE BLANK HAVING A CLOSURE FLAP AND WHILE SO CONVEYING, (B) FORMINGSAID BLANK INTO AN ENCLOSURE POCKET, (C) PLACING AN INSERT ADJACENT SAIDENCLOSURE POCKET, (D) FOLDING SAID CLOSURE FLAP INTO CONTACTING RELATIONWITH SAID INSERT.
 6. AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING ENVELOPES AND INTERLEAVINGAN INSERT THEREWITH, SAID ENVELOPE BEING FORMED FROM A BLANK INCLUDING ACLOSURE FLAP, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME, (B) CONVEYINGMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR CONVEYING THE ENVELOPE BLANK ALONG APATH THROUGH AN ENVELOPE BLANK FOLDING SECTION, (C) MEANS ON SAID FRAMEAND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CONVEYING MEANS FOR FORMING ANENVELOPE ENCLOSURE POCKET FROM SAID ENVELOPE BLANK,